Competitive Ruling - Jeremy "Javage" Hsiung

Riot·Jan 27, 2018·1 votes·4,525 views

TL;DR

On 1/24, UOIT player Jeremy “Javage” Hsiung used a homophobic slur and other demeaning language toward an opposing College LoL Season player while live on his personal stream
Additionally, Javage’s stream exposed him using a racially insensitive term in his team’s Discord
Javage is being issued a 1-game suspension for one instance of homophobic language directed at an opponent and one instance of displaying a racial slur on stream in violation of the College LoL Season code of conduct

CONTEXT

On January 24, 2018, UOIT’s Jeremy “Javage” Hsiung used a homophobic slur as part of a set of insults aimed at an opposing College Season player, including additional profanity and directing a teammate to tell the opponent to commit suicide. The act was documented on Javage’s personal stream while he was on camera. Additionally, Javage incidentally exposed a discord chat in which he had used a racial slur.

While Javage was speaking through a friend, and it is unclear whether or not the message was actually relayed to the opposing player. However, because Javage was streaming, the message was broadcasted for the general public to see.

College Season players are expected to maintain good behavior in and out of game, especially when interacting with opponents or on stream. Furthermore, homophobic language or instructing someone to kill themselves is never acceptable in any environment.

RELEVANT RULES

2018 College LoL Season Ruleset

7.1.2 Profanity and Hate Speech. A Team Member may not use language that is obscene, foul, vulgar, insulting, threatening, abusive, libelous, slanderous, defamatory or otherwise offensive or objectionable; or promote or incite hatred or discriminatory conduct, in or near the match area, at any time... A Team Member may not use this type of language on social media or during any public facing events such as streaming.

RULING

Javage has violated rule 7.1.2 of the College Season ruleset and is suspended for Week 3 of the College LoL Season. He will be fully eligible to compete in Week 4. (Edit: The suspension was originally going to take effect for Week 2, but was amended to Week 3 due to UOIT's match being rescheduled)

7 Comments

Dane BelthoundJan 27, 20182 votes

Good. No need for that crap.

bloobalzJan 30, 20181 votes

Major free speech violation. You can not like and even frown upon things like that, but suspending him for doing so? Petty for the league to act that way. Next thing you know, it will be against the rules to be a straight person, or white, or wealthy. Get off your high horse and let video games be video games as they always have been.

WerecarioJan 31, 20181 votes

As much as I agree with you about free speech and agree with what you are saying, this is how all sports are. All sports have rules about speech. The NFL once ejected a black player for using the N Word (last season I believe). People protested the same thing and some people even protested that since he was black he was allowed to say it. However, free speech is allowed to be limited under certain circumstances, such as at an airport and sporting events. Riot and Lolesports did nothing wrong or illegal. I do think that sometimes people get a little sensitive about some words that are common place are are not considered uncouth, but that is up to the league to decide what can and can not be said. Also, I think it is wrong that he got in trouble for something he said on Discord. He should only get in trouble for what he said when he was in the game or the game prep/ post game.

Kill Bot 1101Jan 31, 20184 votes

Free speech does not mean you are free from consequences.

ModPrandineJan 31, 20181 votes

Freedom of speech only applies to the government and prevents them from creating laws that limit speech. It does not however mean freedom of consequences of said speech, nor does it apply to private orgs and businesses like Riot Games. For instance you can't yell "fire!" in a crowded theater and expect to not get in trouble for it. All sports (both professional and semi-professional) have rules and regulations regarding poor verbal behavior, and that includes things like racial slurs and wishing harm on others (which is unacceptable in pretty much all sports). To quote part of the article: "homophobic language or instructing someone to kill themselves is never acceptable in any environment."

All Riot is doing is upholding the rules they've set in place as they should and that they expect players of all skill levels to follow. They're not breaking any rules or laws by doing this. Honestly if you ask me the player in this article was lucky it was only a one-game suspension. Riot is letting video games be video games but they're also enforcing good sportsmanship and disciplining those who display poor behavior. If you disagree with Riot's rules then feel free to find another game with less strict rules on player behavior and conduct.

thegreatpeonFeb 14, 20181 votes

Generally correct. The first amendment only applies to the Federal government in that it prevents the Federal government from restricting/punishing someone for what they say. RIOT, since they aren't the Federal government, aren't subject to being restricted by the first amendment.

However, yelling "fire" in a crowded theater is not an example of free speech (although many people make that mistake). It is classified as a "call to action". You don't yell "fire" so that you can have a discussion, or protest, or any other speech related activity. You yell "fire" to call people to act in a certain way. Specifically, you are calling for them to escape the building because of a fire. It is more similarly related to inciting a mob to riot.

BigBellBruteFeb 1, 20182 votes

{quoted}

Major free speech violation. You can not like and even frown upon things like that, but suspending him for doing so? Petty for the league to act that way. Next thing you know, it will be against the rules to be a straight person, or white, or wealthy. Get off your high horse and let video games be video games as they always have been.

Not only not a major free speech violation, not even a a minor one. Free speech doesn't apply to private entities. It only applies to government agencies. Riot is free to set and enforce rules for their games and those who play them. The kid is lucky he just got one week. I'd have sat him for at least a month. People know the rules and agree to them when they sign up. That applies to ULOL too.